Choosing The Best Caliber For Concealed Carry

As a full-time firearms instructor, I get daily questions from beginning shooters about the best caliber for concealed carry.People new to carrying a gun on a daily basis have lots of questions about how bullets work and want to choose the most effective firearm they can carry.

I went through the same learning phase myself.As a rookie cop who decided to carry a gun off-duty (which isn’t as common as you might think), I obsessed over my personal firearms selection.I started off with a .38 snub because I could carry it as a backup gun on my ankle while working as well as a primary gun for off duty carry.I quickly realized that, while easy to carry, I couldn’t shoot it very well.Money was tight and I couldn’t afford another gun for awhile, so I defaulted to carrying a gun I had owned since a teenager… a S&W Model 19 .357 Magnum with a four inch barrel.I carried it in an inside-the-waistband holster for more than a year before I got a raise and could buy another gun.

That new gun was a Smith and Wesson Model 3913 9mm.I loved the gun, but I was worried about the stopping power failures I heard were prevalent with the 9mm cartridge.I upgraded to a .40.Shortly thereafter I moved to a bigger .40.Then I upgraded to a .45.I’ve carried just about every caliber available over the years as I stayed on the quest to find the perfect concealed carry caliber.

All the while, I was keeping data on the results of every shooting I could find.I went to autopsies.I talked to gunfight survivors andread police reports.I wanted to put to rest all the rumor and propaganda I had seen about handgun effectiveness.I would prove once and for all which cartridge was the “best” and I would carry that until my research identified something better.

I collected data on nearly 2000 shootings over the course of 10 years of research. For this study, I excluded all cases of accidental shootings or suicides.Every shot in the data set took place during a military battle or an altercation with a criminal.

I looked at many different factors, but the variables I think are most important are the following:

1) What percentage of people shot stopped their aggressive action after one hit to the torso or head?

2) On average, how many shots did it take to stop the attacker?

3) What percentage of attackers did not stop no matter how many rounds they took?

Here’s what I found:

Caliber

% stopped after 1 shot

How many shots to stop

% that did not stop

.22 (short, long, long rifle)

60%

1.38

31%

.25 ACP

49%

2.2

35%

.32 (ACP and long)

72%

1.52

40%

.380 ACP

62%

1.76

16%

9mm Luger

47%

2.45

13%

.38 Spl

55%

1.87

17%

.357 Magnum

61%

1.7

9%

.40 S&W

52%

2.36

13%

.45 ACP

51%

2.08

14%

Before I get into too much detail about the results of my study, a littleeducation in handgun ballistics is required.

There is nothing magical about a handgun bullet.Handgun bullets don’t explode inside the person shot.They don’t knock someone off his feet.They merely poke holes and cut flesh.Obviously, where those holes are located on the body is of prime importance.If the bullets don’t hit a vital structure, they can’t physically incapacitate someone.Besides the location of the wound, the other important factor to consider is the size of the hole.A bigger hole is statistically more likely to hit something vital than a smaller hole, all other factors being equal.

No matter where the bullet hits or what caliber is used, a person can only stop an aggressor three ways:

1) A Psychological stop- This is when the attacker stops fighting because of the pain or the shock from the bullet wound.Oftentimes, criminals will stop their attack even though they weren’t physically incapacitated by the bullet.They just don’t want to be shot anymore!

Even though it happens on a regular basis, we can’t rely on this mechanism to reliably stop an attacker.Many criminals are mentally ill or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Those factors diminish the body’s pain response.We just can’t count on the attacker feeling the pain of the bullet wound and stopping his attack.

2) A Central Nervous System Hit- If your bullet hits the bad guy’s brain or upper spinal cord; it is likely to be immediately incapacitating, and generally fatal.The only problem with relying on this mechanism to achieve a stopping of hostilities is the fact that the brain and spinal cord are relatively hard to hit under the pressure of someone shooting back at you.Besides being small targets, they are relatively well protected by dense bone which will occasionally deflect bullets.

3) Loss of consciousness due to blood loss-If you poke enough holes in vital organs and blood vessels, you will facilitate bleeding.Depending on the number and size of the holes, a person can go unconscious in a matter of seconds or stay in the fight for several minutes.

Let’s combine the knowledge we have about handgun ballistics and the results I obtained in my study to discuss some of the issues involved in your choice of the best caliber for your concealed carry pistol…

I think the most interesting statistic presented is the percentage of people who stopped with one shot to the torso or head. There wasn’t much of a variation between calibers. Between the most common defensive calibers (.38, 9mm, .40, and .45) there was a spread of only eight percentage points. No matter what gun you are shooting, you can only expect around half of the people you shoot to be immediately incapacitated by your first hit.

The average number of rounds until incapacitation was also remarkably similar between calibers. All the common defensive calibers required around 2 rounds on average to incapacitate. Additionally, all four common defensive cartridges have very similar failure rates. If you look at the percentage of shootings that did not result in incapacitation, the numbers are almost identical. The .38, 9mm, .40, and .45 all had failure rates of between 13% and 17%.

Although this study showed that the percentages of people stopped with one shot are similar between almost all handgun cartridges, there is more to the story.Take a look at the percentage of people who did not stop no matter how many rounds were fired into them.The lower caliber rounds (.22, .25, .32) had a failure rate that was roughly two to three times that of the higher caliber rounds.

What matters even more than caliber is shot placement. Across all calibers, if you break down the incapacitations based on where the bullet hit you will find some useful information.

Head shots = 75% immediate incapacitation

Torso shots = 41% immediate incapacitation

Extremity shots (arms and legs) = 14% immediate incapacitation.

No matter which caliber you use, you have to hit something important in order to stop the bad guy!

How do we use this information to choose a defensive handgun?Here are some things to consider:

The “mouse gun” calibers (.22, .25, and .32), while easy to carry, have a very high failure rate as compared to the larger caliber cartridges.If the criminal is likely to be affected by a “psychological stop,” these rounds are as good as any others.I believe that’s why they compare favorably to the larger calibers in the statistic regarding the percentage of people stopped with one shot.Those are likely psychological stops rather than physical incapacitations.

While any gun is better than no gun, I can’t advise you to carry pistols under.35 caliber.They work any many cases, but if you do happen to encounter a motivated attacker, they are far more likely to fail.

The .380 seems fine from a ballistic standpoint.My only concern is the general reliability of the pistols.They just don’t run as well as the larger guns.Some of the really small .380s are also difficult to hold on to when firing.That contributes to slower subsequent shots.Knowing that we are likely to need at least two shots to stop an attacker, this is somewhat of a concern.

If you have a reliable .380 pistol (200-300 rounds between malfunctions) and you can shoot it fast and accurately, I would consider it the bare minimum defensive cartridge for concealed carry.

The .38 Special and .357 Magnum are adequate and superior cartridges respectively.That should make you revolver fans quite happy.My only concern is the rate of fire.Some of the smaller .38 snubs are difficult to shoot well because of their diminutive size, horrible sights and tiny factory grips.The .357 Magnum in a short barrel has very stout recoil and a lot of muzzle blast.Both of these factors make for slower follow-up shots.

Like the .380, I would only carry these two calibers if I had a revolver that I could shoot both fast and accurately.

That leaves the 9mm, .40, and .45.Go back and take a look at the chart again.There is a remarkable similarity in performance between these three rounds.They all stop about half of the attackers with one shot and have a failure rate of 13%-15%.

Despite all the bluster you see on the internet about not carrying a defensive pistol unless the caliber “starts with a 4,” the .40 and .45 do not perform significantly better than the 9mm in real life gunfights.

That doesn’t mean that the .40 or .45 is a bad cartridge, it just means that these cartridges don’t live up to their hype.While at the top of the heap, the .45 is far from a stopper 19 out of 20 times as Col. Cooper asserted.

I would feel completely comfortable carrying any of these three cartridges as my primary defensive weapon.Rather than worrying about the inconsequential differences in stopping power, I would focus on finding the most reliable and accurate firearm I could carry in any of those three calibers.

I like your comments about what gun to carry. I have signed up for your free newsletter but I have to wait on the magazine due to finances. I am a retired correctional officer and deputy sheriff. I look forward to reading your free newsletter. By the way, my carry gun was a S & W .357 while on duty and I believe it is the best besides the .45 auto. Thanks

Exactly. The 10mm, when loaded with “hot rounds” from someone like DoubleTap, will drop a perp as if they were hit with a 300 WinMag to the chest.

My main carry gun is a S&W .38+P with Crimson Trace laser sights due to exactly what you mention here… They are small, easily concealable, and much more likely to “go with you” than a bigger gun that can easily be left behind. The little .38 snubs are snappy (especially in +P) and the ramp sights leave much to be desired. But, with my Crimson Trace it takes a lot of guesswork out of an encounter… especially in the heat of the moment or when it is dark. Plus. the intimidation factor is high when the perp sees that he’s painted with a red dot. That, alone, can stop a fight.

But, my main weapon is a Glock 29 loaded with DT Equalizer ammo. Is recoil snappy on the powerful 10mm? Yes. It’s a bit more than the .45, but not not much more.
I have supreme confidence in a 1-shot stop with this gun. At the most, it will take 2 shots. Muzzle flash is minimal with quality ammo designed for it. Just look at these stats… and, no, I don’t work for DT.
_____
Penetration. Expansion. Damage. Power. Controllable.
These are words used to describe the new 230gr. Equalizer from DoubleTap.

What about two shots in one?
A 135gr. JHP over a 95gr. lead ball @ 1040fps. This load is VERY accurate and produces two holes on target. The ball hits high every time – less than one inch from the JHP @ 10yds and 2.5″ from the JHP @ 25yds

Caliber : 10mm

Bullet : 230gr. two projectiles: 135gr. JHP and 95gr. lead ball

Ballistics : 1040fps/ 553 ft./lbs. – Glock 20
Glock 29 – 1000fps

I know the 10mm is a “boutique round (sort of like the 5.7)” but someone try and beat it! My only drawback on the 10mm is that it hasn’t become a really popular round and that makes ammo expensive, harder to find, and less likely to come by during a zombie apocalypse (LOL). I don’t know why. The power and ballistics are superb to the .40 and .45. In the case of the .45 you can carry more rounds in a mag with a 10 with even more stopping power. The bigger hole doesn’t always win. Knockdown power is a combination of size and speed. IMHO the 10mm clearly wins.
I have had ZERO FTF after over a thousand rounds in it with quality ammo and factory mags.

I carry the 1911 .45. I carry it as a side arm when hunting and it is my choice for personal protection. I have worked in the medical profession for 30+ years and been involved in many autopsies that involved gunshot wounds. I find your information to be very accurate.

An interesting note, in one autopsy, there were multiple bullet wounds of varied calibers. Although the predominant caliber was 9mm, it was an accurately placed .45 round that ended the fight.

I carry a SW Governor. 45/410
I have not seen much data on this group of shells. The 410 PDX, and the 000 shot have markedly different patterns.
I bet it would add some interesting data.

I had to shoot a large rabid 110 lbs. dog on my property in TX a few years back. I cannot image anyone surviving one center-mass shot from the 410 PDX round. I think I would beg an intruder not to make me shoot them with that gun. The dog didn’t suffer any.

The only thing this study does not clarify is ammo type? When comparing ballistics you HAVE to take that into consideration. Most of the data recovered I assume was based on the common street crime. If different please clarify. Most street criminals (per data) involve ball round or cheap ammo. If you compare quality ammo that most concealed carry people carry in their weapons you will see a dramatic change to the statistics. I understand you are basing your findings on data you recovered and I can appreciate that but you have to look at the variables not just the caliber. If you carry a firearm you should do the ballistic comparisons for bullet weight and speed based on the caliber you choose. You will find a much greater variance in 9mm to 45acp with quality ammo. I have done ALL of the comparisons for 9-45 with quality ammo and the real data shows a much greater difference than your survey. Its all about speed/bullet weight/ energy. The biggest bullet does not always mean the better performance. Its a balance of ballistics.

My firearm of choice is the 10mm. I use it as my sidearm when I deer hunt. It’s a Delta Elite 1911 in 10mm. I use a 180 gr bullet so if you shot someone breaking into you home you probably wouldn’t have to shoot them again unless you just wanted to.

Greg, I find your artical very informative, somewhat incomplete due to the stats of special rounds that Armed Legal Citizens usually carry, BUT it was a great starting point for people to try to understand the complexities of thinking , what type of caliber and side arm to carry and what round would be best for stopping power….nice job.

I agree with you Norman, I’m a retired Deputy sheriff from Tennessee. I also carry the S&W 642 lightweight. It’s my first choice to carry. the size and weight of it , makes it easy to conceal and carry. I use the Remington 38 special + P ,125 GR ultimate home defense round.

I agree with you on the 642. I have one. I live in Fla as you do but I don’t carry the 642 anymore. I carry a Glock 23 in .40 S&W cal. I find it to be perfectly easy and comfortable to carry under a Hawaiian type shirt in a Desantis Intruder holster which is a leather and kydex design similar to the Crossbreed holster. I have had my CCW for 25 years and have owned and carried many different guns and holsters over the years. I am satisfied with my Glock 23 and I load it with 180gr. Winchester PDX1. I find the Crossbreed type holster to be the most comfortable and reholsterable holster I have ever carried. You could do a lot worse.

Great article and comments, esp. re: bullet type. Several other factors should be considered when choosing Concealed Carry. A 1911 45 and the 45/410 and other many powerful handguns are not what I would call Concealed Carry. I use a S&W .38+P Model 642 with special self defense bullets. It is light, small and easily made invisible, easy to make a quick draw – (a fraction of a second from a pocket) no hammer or sharp parts to hang-up on clothing, and with +P ammo is close to a .357 Being a revolver, no thought of a jam or accidental firing. Finally, practice can make a .22 the perfect pocket pistol. Head shots are effective with any caliber. Mossad used the .22 Beretta for years.

Good article. I worked in the justice system for 30 years. Most of the criminals we dealt with who used firearms, obtained them by theft (burglary) or purchased them from another criminal who stole the firearm. Ammo was usually obtained the same way. The typical street thug used cheap ball ammo. My experience is only anecdotal and ball ammo can be very deadly. But I sincerely believe that modern day premium hollow point ammo is far superior to what was available up through the 1990s. Whatever round one chooses to use for their CCW, choose on of these potent and reliable hollow points from manufacturers like Speer, Winchester, Corbon, Hornady and others.

It should also be noted that people should practice with the same ammo they load for self defense, at least occassionally, rather than always practicing with cheaper target rounds. It’s good to know how the weapon will respond when it’s needed most.

Would the 9mm ammo be cheaper to purchase over the 40 & 45? Also since I’m looking for a concealed carry weapon that would also serve as a good home protection piece. What do you recommend for performance, accuracy. That would be Mfg & model that you find does the best job. If you have more then one please list as I look to you as the expert.

I have carried one of those little .380’s everyone thinks is useless for years. I have never had to pull the trigger but I have had to present my firearm twice, the mere sight of the gun ended the confrontation instantly.

From reading the artical, I belive the numbers in the first column are inverted. I think 72% did not stop on the first shot, not 72% did stop. If you make that shift the rest of the artical makes sence.

Good observation – what is wrong here. It says the .22, .32 and .380 are the 3 best with 1-shot stopping power better than the .45, which I would think is simply not possible. HEY, GREG PLEASE EXPLAIN.

He did explain – quote:The “mouse gun” calibers (.22, .25, and .32), while easy to carry, have a very high failure rate as compared to the larger caliber cartridges.If the criminal is likely to be affected by a “psychological stop,” these rounds are as good as any others.I believe that’s why they compare favorably to the larger calibers in the statistic regarding the percentage of people stopped with one shot.Those are likely psychological stops rather than physical incapacitations.

Sometimes the sight of the gun will stop a confrontation. Most encounters are after sunset, so the muzzle flash from a 45 and sound is more a deterrent than a .380. A .22 will only piss people off that gets hit with it for the most part. A .380 must be well placed to do any stoppage. One department in our county allowed 45 long colt revolver to be used. In one firefight, a bad guy was hit in the shoulder, lost his arm, still returned 6 shots from a .45 before falling over dead from loss of blood. Practice shooting in poor light conditions, under stress and after running 25 yards is the better training to use a ccw. What can YOU handle, is as important as size.

I have a glock 40 i love it it is easy to conceal and always shoots a tight group. I use 165 fmj and 165 hp and i dont see much differnts in my grouping. I have had a 9mm and a 45acp the glock beats them boath.

I carry an XD45, have since they came out, before that a SW 5906 from my days as LE Officer. Im also an NRA LE/Civilian Firearms Instructor and CCW Instructor. I believe you carry what you can handle, conceal, shoot, and control the best. Im also a big fan of practice practice practice. Get good training, practice, stay up on current events, and use common sense. I always tease people that if you ever have to use the gun, the only comment the police should make is “nice grouping”, because you did everything else right, and your confrontation was righteous.

Caliber doesn’t make all that much difference. Shot placement is everything. That means practice, practice and practice. Presentation can be with a ‘blue gun’ or a semi-auto with a full magazine and empty chamber because the weight of the weapon is important when building muscle memory, and having that muscle memory is critical. In real life, a draw down almost never happens, and a gun already in your hand is always best when entering a potentially dangerous situation. While shooting a paper target is useful, best solution is to find a shooting house with moving targets. For home defense a short shotgun beats a pistol every time!

I Agree with you Tom, However..your first sentence is not accurate it also contradicts your last sentence.

I do understand you are just trying to make a point/exclamation that practice is more important than caliber. If one misses a vital organ than it might as well be a arm or leg shot and the bad guy can still kill you.

Would you rather be shot with a 22 Hollow Point in the torso and live or 9mm, 40 , 45, Jacketed Hollow Point and live?…. Therefore caliber does make a difference.

The average person under stress will not be able to accurately hit a vital organ. Chances are they will point the weapon and pull the trigger. Using the sights would not come into play unless it is a distance shoot and even then it is a crap shoot.

This data needs to be disaggregated. Your data does not account for differences between HP-FMJ and +P versus standard differences.

The 45 Golden Saber +P HP generates over 500ftlbs, far more than a standard 9mm round. A +P 9mm can have similar performance. What about over-penetration with small diameter/high velocity rounds? Of course, the 9mm has lower recoil, and may allow a faster and more accurate 2nd shot. Given my circumstances, I find 40-45 rounds much better suited, more reliable and safer, for my CC purposes. Of course, its a personal matter.

I think the data is a good starting point while trying to make a decision for a person confused by all the myths surrounding different calibers. One other thing that I consider important to first time buyers/carriers is ” how does the firearm fit in your hand, does the firearm come up to a line of sight naturally”? Also practice, practice, practice. Developing good muscle memory is important in a situation that demands you make a quick decision and maintain control.

My question is between the 9mm the 40 and 45 cal. Is collateral damage to innocent bystanders after hitting the intended target? I know that ammo plays a large part in this equation. The last thing I would want to happen is hurt an innocent person

With a large gun collection, and stuff that will put a hole in a quarter at 1,000 yards, I agree. Bought a much more expensive gun (HK P30L v3) but selected the 9mm so I only kill the target I intend, not anyone behind them in line. They say the HK fired 91,000 round without malfunctioning, which is 1 reason you spend 1,000 instead of $500-$600!

was told by someone I know that their uncle, a former PO in Nevada heard shots outside his house. when he investigated he found his son and his son’s friend being shot at by two guys. he fired at them and killed one. one of the bullets he fired went through the guy and hit an innocent bystander. he was taken to jail and is being charged. he had a ccw.
lesson here; no matter righteous or not, it’s like in hunting – always know what’s beyond your target before you fire.
no matter civilian or LE, carrying a weapon isn’t at all like the movies or TV. the factors involved go beyond caliber, type, accuracy, etc.
another lesson; do everything possible to avoid shooting and only do so as a LAST RESORT. then practice the following; officer, I feared for my life and defended myself. then shut up until you have a lawyer.

Brian, if there is a time that you will have to protect yourself, chances are bystanders will be the last on your mind. It’s your life or his.. The caliber size does not make much of a difference, what make a greater difference is the velocity and weight of the projectile. Law enforcement use hollow points to lesson the chance of over penatration. Ammo manufactures taylor some ammo as “self defence ammunition” to address your concern.

I had a 357 for a long time and went to a 9mm. 9 will put out a lot of shots, just get a good 9mm. Today I carry a S&W M&P 40mm and use 180 gr hollow point.
Go out and use the gun. 200-300 rounds. Know what it will do for you. slow and fast shots. All you will need is
2-3 rounds with this 40 in the right place and the person is down. Good luck.. Retired Chief..

Good discussion. I’m no expert in ballistics but stopping power is a matter of physics. Any caliper will kill, eventually. Physics says to optimize the weight of the bullet with it’s velocity, throw in a quick expansion with hollow points and look for maximum force applied to the perp. I shoot .380, 38 spl, .40, and .45 in various length barrels and weight of pistols. Carry what you can handle well and shoot accurately. A .45 that misses at 10 yds because you’re waiting for that mule to kick is useless. A light weight .380 with hollow points placed in the heart/lungs will stop an average perp. I prefer and carry a S&W 642 with laser in south FL. It’s light to carry, has plenty of punch with the ,38 spl +P hollow points and with the lighter loads, will not bust your wrist. I have shot a lot of rounds and know the gun will perform. That said, if you have to pull it, and I have twice, it is a lot different than on a range. Your heart is pumping, BP is up, and you are not as steady. So, the best item in my “ensemble” is that laser. Even in full sun, at 10 yds and in, there are no front and rear sites to align. Put that red dot where it should be, take a breath, and squeeze. Then repeat the process. Use .380 or larger with good ammo, carry what you are comfortable shooting and practice enough to have confidence in your weapon and your ability to use it if you must.

I use a 9mm with a green laser that is great in day and night. Just point at the area you want to hit it will do the job. I use a Ruger sr9 with 17 rounds. If that don;t stop them he must be super man. I have two more 17th round mag if needed.

what he meant was, the guy shot him once with a 380, when the guy didnt stop, he beat him to death with a shovel, then shot him again with a 380 and a 12 gauge, before runnin him over in a buick, but what percent would the buick be.

Before buying the Sig in .40, I tried on many of the other brands including S&W, Glock, Ruger, etc. I found that the comfort and fit in my hand was the most important factor in determining my purchase.

While you state that dependability and accuracy are key, having a gun that doesn’t feel good in your hand, is a weapon that sits in the gun safe, not in your holster.

go talk to any ww1,ww2,korean,viet-nam vet and ask about the 45 cal pistol, thaey will tell you it is a fight stopper and that was using a 230gr fmj at 900fps 4 wars and 100 years later its the most popular round in the world next to the 9mm and that’s just because its n.a.t.o and amm is available around the world so don’t believe the hype that the 45 is not all the hype this is a seriously deadly round and will not deflect on a car windshile and will pierce a car door and tag who is on the over side. with modern ammo moving a 230 grain at 1000,1200 fps you due the math, this guy has left out 90+ years of evidence that tells the truth behind the 45.

I am a Nam veteran and Have retired from Law Enforcement. I have used and seen the .45 round put down a many of people with no problem. We didn’t have hollow points or critical ammo. I carry according to how I feel that day or time of the year, Those firearms are .45, 357, 44mag. I don’t buy hollow points or reduced loads. My mind set is in close combat you end it as quick as possible.

I have carried a .45 Colt Officer Lightweight (not that heavy and definitly will stop someone cold should that unfortunatly ever be necessary).Was mugged 3 Xs in my life Twice in Chicago in 60s-70s Never could get a permit in Illinois Worst Gun State in the USA. Also Lived in Morton Grove IL. earlty 70s when they banned owning any pistol !! No way was I giving up my .45 Colt 1911 Full Size. Moved to Colorado in 1977 and got held up at gunpoint a Rifle nonetheless!! by 2 creeps after a month after arriving here while putting Antifreeze in my Vette. I mean if I wanted to get mugged I colud have stayed in Chi Town..Broke away and .Ran upstairs got my Colt .45 but never found the 2 White Muggers in thier 20s Jerks. The Denver Cops wanted to know could I Identifythe assailants and I said yes but they only came around once after I thought I was gonna die and never got the bastards that I know of.
In those days you couldnt get a carry permit unless connected In Colorado or lived very Rural.so I carried outside the Pants Theoaritacly Legal and Open . Nothing worse than thinking youre gonna die and UNARMED!!
That leads me to my arrest in 1990 accused of robbing my Bank as I was making a deposit and carried a Colt .380 Government in my patns Open Visible..That led to an arrest etc .Called the FBI on me MAKING a Deposit not a withdrawl!! Thus after I Demanded a jury Trial It was bizzare I refused a plea deal and plead Not Guilty to carrying a CCW without a permit. All day Trial got my .380 back and was exonerated but what a Trip.. At least Most Staes are Pro CCW nowdays.My post more later..

I would be interested to know the stats on cc distance between shooters. I’m guessing it’s feet to a couple yards. At what distance and stats do cc shootings transition from 2nd hand defense, to point and shoot, to sights. My guess is a shootings with sight used provided distance or cover. Shootings up close and personal need any hollow point to the head or larger caliber hollow point to the torso. I’m thrilled I read this article and everyone of your comments. I helped me to know I need to research a little more to answer my ‘stats questions’ before I purchase the cc weapon.
I expect addnt’l stats to reveal my priorities, hollow point, quality, highest grain is a given:
a) gun access/speed for up close and personal
b) under 4″ bbl facilitates (a)
c) torso shot stopping caliber
d) maybe alternate hollow point first two, 3rd & 4th to penetrate cover, remainder not sure, we’ll see what the stats suggest. I don’t think any cc shooting is going to allow 6 rounds much less a full clip. My comments are relative to anywhere outside the home.

I’ve read Evan Marshall’s books, the goat tests and so on, but for me it more about the size and weight of the gun than the caliber. If having stopping power means leaving it in the truck I go with a pea shooter, and not because I am recoil shy. My open carry gun is 329PD Airlight .44 Magnum that is a lot more fun and less painful to shoot that an ultralight .380.

I put a 7 ounce .380 in a holster in my front pocket without changing a thing about my clothing and I draw it without hanging up on the top of the pocket. Good luck hiding a gun under your T-shirt.

I have tried other small choices, .357 J frames, PM9, .40 Shield, NAA .380, Sig .380 and so on, but I find that I reach for the P3AT because it is easier to carry. Unlike some examples, my first gen P3AT is reliable. My second choice is a Kel Tec PF9, not the .40 Shield. The Shield is heavier and its front sight is more prone to snagging although the rear sight on both guns snag, unlike the P3AT which has barely useable sights, but at least they don’t snag. I have not tried the 9mm DiamondBack. It seems like a practical compromise between size, weight, and stopping power.

Great information, I taking away a few factors I was debating. I was leaning toward largest caliber, but then I add weight and a couple other above mentioned points. I thinking for my style and reaction, I would be best with a revolver, great reliability. This biggest think Im seeing here it is all about placement. Thanks again, great info.

In my classes I have students shoot bullseye targets until I am sure they can handle their guns. Then I put up cardboard with scrap tee shirts on it, so they learn to shoot center of mass. Then they have to shoot while moving, because if you are standing your an easy target. I teach you shoot until the threat is over and that rarely happens with one shot no matter what caliber you are using. Use the caliber and gun type that you can handle and get back on target fast for your next shot.

Well stated. I teach full time, I am a retired Police Chief, and served in combat. I have seen what bullets do 1st hand. One could argue MANY points. I wont. I will only add, training is key. Action is faster than re-action and the only truth, is muscle memory, slow, smooth and accurate! Shot placement helps, training with a minimum standard response, fail to stop and ABC last resort shooting to stop a threat. We here at Umbrella Tactics train all our students, we spend 1 hour in the class room, and the rest on the range. Range training is paramount to establish muscle memory. Using what your comfortable with as long as its reliable and proven. As stated, I dont recommend anything under a 9mm for defense. but one gun is better than none. BE safe, thanks for the article!

Nice article, and some great information. Your recommendations are consistent with many others that I’ve read — .380 as a minimum recommendation (but any gun is better than no gun), with 9mm or larger as the preferred. I don’t take exception to any of this (yes, we can go over technical ballistic statistics until we’re all blue in the face), and as a high-level review of carry choices, I think you’ve done a great job.

I have two carry guns – a Glock 19 (9mm) and a Sig P238 (380). Both are great firearms, both function “flawlessly”, I keep both clean and ready to go, and I practice with both at least a couple of times a month (more if I can find ammo). I’m reasonably accurate with both, and practice a lot with the additional “controls” on the P238 (mini 1911 style firearm).

I find that with my smaller frame, I have trouble comfortably carrying, and adequately concealing, my G19 inside-the-waistband, so I carry this way: If it’s IWB concealed carry, I carry the P238. If I’m carrying my “man-purse” (I have a 5.11 Push Pack, and really like it), I have the G19 in the “hidden” pocket. I really feel that I’m accurate enough with the P238 that if presenting the gun and saying the words “I have a gun, please do not proceed, your life is worth more” doesn’t stop the threat, my Hornady Zombie Max 380’s will.

One thing you should also consider is the physiological part of it. If someone pulls a smaller caliber and you pull a larger one most of the time they will give up unless they are high or have a death wish. I have learned that through many years in the Army. That is why I carry a R.I.A. 1911 45 loaded with Hollow points

Great article! But I believe that there is more to the discussion. Of course, a hit in a critical area, torso or head, reduces the importance of the caliber. From all my study, it appears that a hit in a non-critical area separates the calibers’ effectiveness by a large margin. A 9mm to the arm will be ineffective against many attackers, while a .40 or .45 to the arm is much more likely to stop the aggressor. Under the distress of an attacker, few of us will perform as accurately as we do at the range.

On the other hand, the .45 has proven itself to over-penetrate. This leaves others behind the perpetrator at risk, and reduces the energy absorption of the round.

I do agree with the majority of the article, though. The best cartridge to use is the one we can shoot accurately, paired with the weapon of choice.

I have also carried a wide variety of calibers (.380, 9mm, 38, 40 & 45). My concern has always been more about comfort than caliber. Like you said, all it takes is a “well placed shot”. If I am carrying a firearm that I have no confidence in or doubt my proficiency with, it could cause me to hesitate. And if I hesitate, I’d might as well be unarmed.

I’m still liable to carry any one of a number of pistols (depending on mood and circumstances) but my favorite, by far, is the Ruger SR9

several years(1955) ago in the navy I saw a brig prisoner try to escape while being marched to chow. The 4 guards were armed with 2 45’s, and two 12 gauge shotguns . One guard opened up, and fired off two rounds from his 1911. He only hit with one, in the right forearm. Spun the prisoner around twice, and knocked him down and out. I shudder to think if they had been using modern day ammunition.

I think the telling stat is where the aggressor is shot. It my seem gruesom but shooting someone in the face might be the best solution. You give a thumbs up to the .380 round but then say the guns that shoot them are questionable. I had both the S&W 380 and the Ruger 380. I got rid of the S&W for two reasons – too many bells and whistles – and it was picky about ammo. But the Ruger is a winner. My wife has it now and has no trouble working the slide or with the fact it has no safety. The gun along with a Kangaroo holster is just about perfect for someone who wants to be armed but not have to be fiddling about with a heavier weapon.

As a 20 year cop in a a large urban environment, I have witnessed too many shootings to detail here, for sure! Of note, bad guys with little or no training and using whatever guns and ammo they can get their hands on usually provide lousy real-word statistics compared to police officer-generated shootings. Better training/marksmanship and comparable firearms/ammunition combinations that relate to what most CCW practitioners carry, are a better one-to-one comparison than lumping them all together! That said, the article is helpful and worthy of consideration, I say. My advice and a nickel would still be worth just five cents, but with all the variables that affect a successful outcome, control as many as possible and stay in control daily through familiarization and practice. Then, make your peace with God—–be it in 50 seconds or 50 years, the meeting is inevitable, right?

I carry a Desert Eagle 50AE. It’s a bit heavy and not truly concealable (I wear it under my coat) but, I know if I ever need to use it for self protection it really doesn’t matter where I hit the target. However, I do frequently practice two center mass and one to the face/head (people generally stop fighting when their face is blown off) type training at the range. Because of the design of the pistol it has less felt recoil in my opinion than my .45. I have big hands so the grip size is not an issue. I shoot it with one hand for quicker draw and target engagement time. It’s a great shooting powerful firearm. After serving multiple tours in the middle east I’m a true believer in bigger bullets make deader targets and there is no such thing as overkill! Anyway, that’s my 2-cents!